ChatDescription
VCU Libraries offers many webinars to help researchers at all levels in the health sciences master online tools and other resources and strategies that benefit research projects. Topics include making the most of PubMed, finding scientific and medical images, using Creative Commons, mining databases and searching for reliable consumer health information.
The series is free and open to all, but registration is required. After registering participants will receive the class URL via email.
Upcoming Sessions:
PubMed & CINAHL: Basics of Doing a Good Search
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn the basics of doing a good search to search and how those apply in PubMed/Medline and CINAHL. Participants will learn the basic features of each database and search techniques such as limits and the use of Boolean Operators. Methods to identify locally available journals or full-text online articles will also be discussed.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe what topics and/or disciplines are covered by each database.
- Understand why and how to access PubMed & CINAHL through VCU libraries
- Perform a simple search in PubMed and CINAHL and view search history in each
- Identify options for displaying search results
- Discuss options for limiting or filtering results of search
- Connect to VCU Libraries holding to obtain full text of articles
Zotero Basics
Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Zotero helps users manage their citation collections. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, import citations and PDFs, organize citation collections, generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and more.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Create a Zotero account
- Import citations and PDFs from websites and databases
- Organize citation collections
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and the Google Docs Plug-in
Getting Started With Mendeley
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025
noon-1 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Mendeley is a tool that helps users manage, share, annotate, and cite citations to research. Citation collections are stored in the cloud and can be used across various devices or platforms. In this workshop participants will learn how to install Mendeley, import citations and PDFs from various databases, organize a library of citations, and insert citations into a document.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Install Mendeley Reference Manager
- Import citations from PubMed and PDFs from various sources using the Mendeley web browser plug in
- Organize citations into collections
- Annotate PDFs and make notes that can be shared.
- Use Mendeley plugin to place in-text citations and a bibliography into a document
Finding Health Statistics Online
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025
noon-1 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Public health institutions provide a wealth of statistical information through the Internet. But finding the correct statistic can be tricky, especially with so many resources to sift through. That's why VCU Libraries has created a Health Statistics Online research guide to help make sense of the various resources out there. This webinar will show you how you can use this guide to explore local, national, and international statistical resources, as well as resources on racial health disparities statistics.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Be acquainted with VCU Libraries’ Health Statistics Online research guide;
- Be able to use the guide to find local, national, and international statistics;
- Explore resources on racial health disparities statistics.
How to Find and Appraise Secondary Datasets
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
noon-1 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
If you’re a beginning researcher looking to become familiar with data resources, you might consider looking for secondary data. Secondary data is data that has been collected by one researcher for one purpose, but can be used by other researchers to answer other questions. Some secondary datasets are publicly available and can save time and money by allowing a researcher to use relevant data that has already been collected, rather than collecting data from scratch. VCU Libraries provides access to several resources that curate secondary datasets for research and teaching purposes. This webinar is designed to introduce participants to these resources, demonstrate where to find these resources using VCU Libraries guides, and to explore how some secondary dataset records are organized.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Be able to define “secondary data”;
- Use VCU Libraries research guides to find secondary data resources;
- Choose a dataset based on a topic;
- Identify the components of a secondary dataset record;
- Review implications for using secondary datasets to inform your research.
Zotero Basics
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2025
noon-1 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Zotero helps users manage their citation collections. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, import citations and PDFs, organize citation collections, generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and more.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Create a Zotero account
- Import citations and PDFs from websites and databases
- Organize citation collections
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and the Google Docs Plug-in
Searching OVID: MEDLINE & Embase
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025
noon-12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Become a pro at searching Ovid MEDLINE and Embase. In this webinar, you will learn advanced database features that will help you navigate the literature more thoroughly and precisely. This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of features used by medical librarians including the use of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), Emtree (Embase subject headings), adjacency searching, Search Alerts and efficient organizing and collecting options.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the features of Advanced Search in OVID: MEDLINE and Embase
- Use Medical Subject Headings to search MEDLINE and Emtree Headings in Embase
- Create saved search alerts using an Ovid personal account.
PubMed: Searching the Biomedical Literature
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
noon-1 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn to search the biomedical literature with PubMed, a free online scientific database from the National Libraries of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. This webinar will cover basic search techniques and features of the database that allow users to filter and enhance their search. In addition, participants will learn how to access full-text of articles, save searches and get alerts for topics that interest you.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this workshop attendees will be able to:
- Perform a search in PubMed and identify options for displaying and filtering search results
- Investigate a citation record to obtain full-text of articles and view citations of similar articles
- Identify options for saving or sharing articles and searches
PubMed & CINAHL: Basics of Doing a Good Search
Sunday, March 16, 2025
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn the basics of doing a good search to search and how those apply in PubMed/Medline and CINAHL. Participants will learn the basic features of each database and search techniques such as limits and the use of Boolean Operators. Methods to identify locally available journals or full-text online articles will also be discussed.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe what topics and/or disciplines are covered by each database.
- Understand why and how to access PubMed & CINAHL through VCU libraries
- Perform a simple search in PubMed and CINAHL and view search history in each
- Identify options for displaying search results
- Discuss options for limiting or filtering results of search
- Connect to VCU Libraries holding to obtain full text of articles
Zotero Basics
Sunday, March 23, 2025
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Zotero helps users manage their citation collections. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, import citations and PDFs, organize citation collections, generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and more.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Create a Zotero account
- Import citations and PDFs from websites and databases
- Organize citation collections
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and the Google Docs Plug-in
Past Sessions:
Searching OVID: MEDLINE & Embase
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024
noon-12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Become a pro at searching Ovid MEDLINE and Embase. In this webinar, you will learn advanced database features that will help you navigate the literature more thoroughly and precisely. This webinar will provide attendees with an overview of features used by medical librarians including the use of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), Emtree (Embase subject headings), adjacency searching, Search Alerts and efficient organizing and collecting options.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the features of Advanced Search in OVID: MEDLINE and Embase
- Use Medical Subject Headings to search MEDLINE and Emtree Headings in Embase
- Create saved search alerts using an Ovid personal account.
PubMed & CINAHL: Basics of Doing a Good Search
Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn the basics of doing a good search to search and how those apply in PubMed/Medline and CINAHL. Participants will learn the basic features of each database and search techniques such as limits and the use of Boolean Operators. Methods to identify locally available journals or full-text online articles will also be discussed.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe what topics and/or disciplines are covered by each database.
- Understand why and how to access PubMed & CINAHL through VCU libraries
- Perform a simple search in PubMed and CINAHL and view search history in each
- Identify options for displaying search results
- Discuss options for limiting or filtering results of search
- Connect to VCU Libraries holding to obtain full text of articles
PubMed: Searching the Biomedical Literature
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024
noon - 12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn to search the biomedical literature with PubMed, a free online scientific database from the National Libraries of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. This webinar will cover basic search techniques and features of the database that allow users to filter and enhance their search. In addition, participants will learn how to access full-text of articles, save searches and get alerts for topics that interest you.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this workshop attendees will be able to:
- Perform a search in PubMed and identify options for displaying and filtering search results
- Investigate a citation record to obtain full-text of articles and view citations of similar articles
- Identify options for saving or sharing articles and searches
PubMed & CINAHL: Basics of Doing a Good Search
Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024
noon -12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn the basics of doing a good search to search and how those apply in PubMed/Medline and CINAHL. Participants will learn about the basic features of each database and search techniques such as limits and use of Boolean Operators. Methods to identify locally available journals or full-text online articles will also be discussed.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe what topics and/or disciplines are covered by each database.
- Understand why and how to access PubMed & CINAHL through VCU libraries
- Perform a simple search in PubMed and CINAHL and view search history in each
- Identify options for displaying search results
- Discuss options for limiting or filtering results of search
- Connect to VCU Libraries holding to obtain full text of articles
Getting Started With Zotero
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024
noon- 12:50 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Zotero helps users manage their citation collections. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, import citations and PDFs, organize citation collections, generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and more.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Create a Zotero account
- Import citations and PDFs from websites and databases
- Organize citation collections
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and the Google Docs Plug-in
Research Poster Design
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
noon- 12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Learn to make research posters that are eye-catching and well-organized. Take advantage of tips and tools that will help communicate research more effectively.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Learn tips and tricks for research poster layout and design
- Be able to use the information to create eye-catching research posters
- Understand good strategies for choosing content for research posters
- Be familiar with library resources for poster printing
Covidence
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
noon-12:50 p.m.
Online via Zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Considering taking on an evidence synthesis project like a systematic review? Learn more about Covidence, a resource offered through VCU Libraries. Covidence is a web-based tool that streamlines the process of conducting a systematic review or other type of evidence synthesis project. This session will teach how to register with the VCU institutional account and provide an overview of how Covidence can facilitate the screening and data extraction phases of your review.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Register for Covidence through the VCU institutional account
- Set up a new review and invite collaborators
- Understand the basic features of Covidence including, uploading citations, defining eligibility criteria, making screening decisions and using data extraction forms.
Getting Started With Zotero
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
noon- 12:50 p.m.
Online via zoom. All participants must register using the registration link.
Description:
Zotero helps users manage their citation collections. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, import citations and PDFs, organize citation collections, generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and more.
Objectives:
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Create a Zotero account
- Import citations and PDFs from websites and library databases
- Organize citation collections
- Generate in-text citations and bibliographies using Zotero’s Microsoft Word Plugin and the Google Docs Plug-in
For special accommodations, or to register offline, please contact Ryan Pander, event manager, rbpander@vcu.edu or 804-828-0593.